Game rosary

ABSTRACT

A sports-oriented religious apparatus in the form of a game rosary, including a string of beads having a least a subset of the beads representing one or more implements used in the execution of a single sport. In an alternative configuration, the string of beads includes a loop of a first set of beads and a tail of a second set of beads connected to the loop of the first set of beads, at least a portion of the beads of the first and second set of beads representing one of more implements associated with the execution of a single sport.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) of the following: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/839,966, entitled “GAME ROSARY,” filed Aug. 23, 2006, which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Many fans of sporting events believe in, and hope for influence from, a divine source to affect the outcome of a sporting event. The sporting event may be a game or part of a game. These fans actively believe that they may contribute to the outcome of the sporting event with their beliefs and active appeal to those beliefs.

SUMMARY

This document discloses a sports-oriented religious apparatus. In one aspect, an apparatus is disclosed that relates a user's represented beliefs to a sporting event. In another aspect, an apparatus is disclosed that employs sporting event symbolism to update a traditional religious symbolic implement or tool.

In one aspect, an apparatus includes a string of beads having at least a subset of the beads representing one or more implements used in the execution of a single sport. The string of beads can include a loop of a first set of beads and a tail of a second set of beads connected to the loop of the first set of beads, at least a portion of the beads of the first and second set of beads representing one or more implements associated with the execution of a single sport.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects will now be described in detail with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a sports-oriented religious apparatus in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative configuration of a sports-oriented religious apparatus that includes representations of hoped-for possible outcomes of results of a sport or sporting events.

FIG. 3 illustrates yet another configuration of a sports-oriented religious apparatus.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This document describes a sports-oriented religious apparatus that can be used by a user to draw upon the user's belief system during the user's witness or participation of a sport or sporting event. A sport can include any competitive game such as baseball, football, hockey, basketball, etc. A sporting event can be any executed part of a sport.

FIG. 1 illustrates a sports-oriented religious apparatus 100 in the form of a baseball-oriented rosary. The apparatus 100 includes a string of beads 102, where at least a subset 104 of the beads represents one or more implements used in the execution of a single sport of sporting event. For example, the sport can be baseball. The sport event can be a game of baseball, an inning or an at-bat in the game of baseball, or even a single pitch to a hitter in a baseball game. An implement is a tool or instrument used in executing a sporting event, an article used to outfit or equip participants of a sporting event, or an instrument or agent of a sport. The implement can be an inanimate object, such as a base or a bat in the sport of baseball, or a person such as a pitcher, outfielder or catcher in baseball.

In the baseball-oriented embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the string of beads 102 includes a number of player beads 105 interspersed by base beads 107 that depict the bases of a baseball game. The player beads 105 can include an indicia such as a number (as shown) or a picture that represents a player on a baseball team. The base beads 107 can include a home plate bead and three infield base beads.

The beads need not be rounded, as depicted by the player beads 105, but can be any shape such as a cube or other polyhedron. The string of beads 102 can include beads of any shape or configuration, and the beads can represent any implement or concept related to a single sport or sporting event. The beads can be any color, or have any degree of translucence. The beads are preferably formed of plastic, but can be made of any material. Further, the string of beads 102 can include a number of beads threaded by a string of rope, cotton, nylon or other type of thread, or can be formed of a metal or plastic chain of loop links.

In some embodiments, the string of beads 102 includes a loop 109 of a first set of beads and tail 111 of a second set of beads connected to the loop of the first set of beads. At least a subset of the first set of beads represents a player associated with a team of the single sport. This representation can include one or more beads, each bead representing a player associated with a team of the single sport. The loop 109 also includes the four bases used in baseball interspersed among the player beads.

The first and/or second set of beads in the loop 109 and tail 111 can include one or more beads with an insignia of a team associated with the single sport. The insignia can include a team name, a logo, a picture of a mascot or coach of the team, or any other graphic that is particular bead, rather, a bead and be formed into the insignia in alternative implementations. Likewise, representations of players and/or implements of any sport need not be affixed to a surface of a bead, but rather the bead can be formed into such representation.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative configuration of a sports-oriented religious apparatus 200 having a string of beads 201 having at least a subset of the beads representing one or more desired or hoped-for results 205 or outcomes in the execution of a single sport or sporting event. In the specific configuration shown in FIG. 2, provided as an example only, the string of beads includes a loop 202 of a first set of beads and tail 204 of a second set of beads. At least a portion of the second set of beads includes representations of possible results that can be hoped-for by fans of the sport. In the case shown in FIG. 2, the results 205 are possible outcomes of a play in football, the sport being designated by the representation of a football. The results 205 can also represent scores, a winner, a placing, or other outcome.

FIG. 3 illustrates yet another embodiment of a sports-oriented religious apparatus 300 having a string of beads 302 that includes at least one or more of the beads that represent a single sport, sporting event, team or participant or the sport. In the example shown in FIG. 3, four of the beads include representations of a team 304 associated with a single sport, and at least one bead including a representation of a corporate sponsor 306 of the single sport. As discussed above, the representation can include text or graphics applied to an outer surface of a bead which may be formed of any shape. Alternatively, the representation can be made by the shape of the bead itself, i.e. where the bead is formed into a logo or name, for instance.

Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims. 

1. An apparatus comprising: a string of beads having at least a subset of the beads representing one or more implements used in the execution of a single sport.
 2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the subset of the beads represents bases in the sport of baseball.
 3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the string of beads includes a loop of a first set of beads and a tail of a second set of beads connected to the loop.
 4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein the loop of a first set of beads includes a set of beads that represent bases in the sport of baseball.
 5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the bases includes three infield bases and a home plate.
 6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a first group of beads in the subset of beads represents bases in the sport of baseball, and wherein a second group of beads in the subset of beads represents players in the sport of baseball.
 7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more beads bear an insignia of a team associated with the single sport.
 8. An apparatus comprising: a string of beads, including a loop of a first set of beads and a tail of a second set of beads connected to the loop of the first set of beads, at least a portion of the beads of the first and second set of beads representing one or more implements associated with the execution of a single sport.
 9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein each of a least a subset of the first set of beads represents a player associated with a team of the single sport.
 10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein a number of at least a subset of the second set of beads represents a coach of the team.
 11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein at least one implement includes a bat related to the sport of baseball.
 12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein the single sport is the sport of baseball, and wherein the remainder of the first set of beads represent bases in the sport of baseball.
 13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein one or more beads of the first or second set of beads bear an insignia of a team associated with the single sport.
 14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein the insignia includes a logo.
 15. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the beads are shaped into a ball that is used in the single sport.
 16. An apparatus comprising: a string of beads having two or more beads representing one or more implements used in the execution of a single sport, and having at least one bead bearing an insignia of a team related to the single sport.
 17. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein the single sport is baseball.
 18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the one or more implements include a base.
 19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the one or more implements include a bat.
 20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein the two or more beads representing the one or more implements include each of the two or more beads bearing a number of a player of a team related to the single sport. 